Urgent Appeal: Justice For the Murder of Bangladeshi Gay Rights Activists Xulhaz Mannan and Mahbub Tonoy Through Investigation and Arrest Of the Perpetrators

Advocate Shahanur Islam Saikot

02 May 2018

Dear Comrades,

Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR), Justicemakers Bangladesh and Boichitro Dot Bangla (বৈচিত্র্য.বাংলা) would together like to ask for your urgent and fruitful intervention to ensure necessary steps are taken to obtain justice through investigation the and arrest of the perpetrators of the grisly murder of gay rights activists Xulhaz Mannan and Mahbub Tonoy at the hands of fundamentalist thugs. Xulhaz and Tonoy were robust defenders of the constitutional rights of sexual minorities or members of the LGBTQIA+ community in Bangladesh.

Brief Synopsis

On April 25, 2016, Islamic fundamentalists mercilessly murdered gay rights activists Xulhaz Mannan and Mahbub Tonoy at Xulhaz’s home. The activists were robust defenders of the constitutional rights of sexual minorities or members of the LGBTQIA+ community in Bangladesh. The attackers fled the scene after the incident. A case was opened afterwards in Dhaka Metropolitan area’s Kalabagan police thana (office) and two of the accused murderers were arrested who later admitted to the crime. But it is a matter of grave sadness that even after two years of the incident, police have neither been able to complete the investigation, nor arrest the remaining attackers. Enquiries have been going on at a snail’s pace and we have not witnessed any progress. In the meantime, the date for submitting a police report to Court upon due investigation has been postponed 23 times. Therefore, it has now become doubtful whether it will at all be possible to obtain justice through impartiality and the arrest of the criminals upon due investigation.

Recommendation

Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHRP), Justicemakers Bangladesh and Boichitro Dot Bangla (বৈচিত্র্য.বাংলা) would together like to strongly urge that necessary steps are taken to obtain justice through investigation and the arrest of the perpetrators of the grisly murder of gay rights activists Xulhaz Mannan and Mahbub Tonoy at the hands of fundamentalist thugs.

Kindly consider sending an Urgent Appeal to the persons listed below to ensure necessary steps are taken to obtain justice through investigation and the arrest of the perpetrators of the grisly murder of gay rights activists Xulhaz Mannan and Mahbub Tonoy.

Sample Urgent Appeal

Date: May 2, 2018

Mr Md. Abdul Hamid
Your Excellency The President
Office of the President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh
Bangabhaban
Dhaka
Bangladesh
Email: president@bangabhaban.gov.bd

Subject: Regarding the need to take necessary steps to obtain justice through investigation and the arrest of the perpetrators of the grisly murder of gay rights activists Xulhaz Mannan and Mahbub Tonoy at the hands of fundamentalist thugs.

Built upon the principles of the United Nations Universal Bill of Rights in mind, Bangladesh Insititute of Human Rights (BIHR), Justicemakers Bangladesh and Boichitro Dot Bangla (বৈচিত্র্য.বাংলা) are together dedicated to establish, develop and safeguard human rights for all. It is a sacred constitutional obligation to elevate the fundamental human rights of every Bangladeshi citizen.

On April 25, 2016, Islamic fundamentalists mercilessly murdered gay rights activists Xulhaz Mannan and Mahbub Tonoy at Xulhaz’s home. The activists were robust defenders of the constitutional rights of sexual minorities or members of the LGBTQIA+ community in Bangladesh. The attackers fled the scene after the incident. A case was opened afterwards in Dhaka Metropolitan area’s Kalabagan police thana (office) and two of the accused murderers were arrested who later admitted to the crime. But it is a matter of grave sadness that even after two years of the incident, police have neither been able to complete the investigation, nor arrest the remaining attackers. Enquiries have been going on at a snail’s pace and we have not witnessed any progress. In the meantime, the date for submitting a police report to Court upon due investigation has been postponed 23 times. Therefore, it has now become doubtful whether it will at all be possible to obtain justice through impartiality and the arrest of the criminals upon due investigation.

We believe that with your swift and effective intervention, the prospect of lack of justice through impartiality and the arrest of the perpetrators of the grisly murder of gay rights activists Xulhaz Mannan and Mahbub Tonoy at the hands of fundamentalist thugs will be reduced.

In this regard, Bangladesh Insititute of Human Rights (BIHR), Justicemakers Bangladesh and Boichitro Dot Bangla (বৈচিত্র্য.বাংলা) would like to wish for your personal intervention to ensure the establishment, development and preservation of everyone’s human rights.

Bangladesh Insititute of Human Rights (BIHR), Justicemakers Bangladesh and Boichitro Dot Bangla (বৈচিত্র্য.বাংলা) would like to wish you overall success.